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9:15 am

Thu February 23, 2012

Reports: Marine Helicopters Crash In Southwest

(This post was updated with breaking news at 9:27 a.m. ET.)

Seven U.S. Marines were killed Wednesday night when two helicopters collided over the Yuma, Ariz., Training Range Complex, according to a statement just emailed to the NPR Newscast Desk by a spokesman for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The statement adds that:

"The aircraft, an AH-1W 'Cobra' and an UH-1Y 'Huey,' were conducting routine training operations around 8:00 p.m. Identities of the Marines will be withheld until next of kin have been notified."

Our original post:

NBC News appears to have been first to report that "seven Marines were killed when their two helicopters collided Wednesday night near Yuma, Ariz.," according to "defense officials."

But The Associated Press is reporting that "a military official says two Huey military helicopters have crashed in the Chocolate Mountains in southeast California, but it's unclear whether there are casualties."

We'll pass on more information as the story develops.

Copyright 2012 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.